Toy gun



July 12, 1949. @G Nn-z ETAL 2,476,212

TOY GUN iled March 22, 194e Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED TOY GUN Charles G. Nitz and Carl F. Hofmeer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,253

Claims. l

Our invention relates in general to improvements in catapults or the like, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of toy guns embodying catapult mechanism for delivering diverse kinds of proj ectiles therefrom.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and durable automatic gun adapted to forceably eject diverse types of bullets or projectiles in a rapid and most effective manner.

Some of the more important specific objects of our invention are as follows:

To provide an improved toy pistol or the like, Which is adapted to be manufactured and sold at moderate cost, and which is also safely operable by children.

To provide an attractive and fascinating catapult which may be utilized to play games of skill, and which may also be used to shoot various kinds of projectiles such as rubber balls, objects with parachutes attached, feathered shuttlecocks, or the like.

To provide an improved mechanical pistol which is adapted to be readily operated so as to deliver the bullets with considerable force but without undue danger.

To provide a toy gun all parts of which may be conveniently constructed, assembled or dismantled, and wherein the movable parts with the exception of the trigger, are all enclosed and thoroughly protected.

To provide an improved spring operated pistol assemblage which is dependable and fascinating in action, and which may also be produced in quantity with simple equipment so that various parts of the mechanism are interchangeable.

To provide an exceedingly strong and compact catapult mechanism which is automatic in action, and which also is adapted to be utilized for diverse purposes.

These and other specic objects and advantages of our invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating a toy gun embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a typical toy catapult pistol embodying the invention, showing the hammer or catapult arm about to be released in order to deliver a ball projectile;

Fig. 2 is a similar section through the same pistol, showing the hammer sprung and the projectile being delivered from the bell shaped discharge end of the barrel;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the pistol, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the barrel and the guide portion of the piston casing, taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2 but with other internal parts omitted;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the trigger and hammer retracting and release element of the pistol;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the same trigger and hammer retracting and release element;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the hammer or catapult lever arm, a portion thereof being shown in section; and

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the hammer arm.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being especially applicable to toy pistols for projecting rubber balls or the like, it is not our desire or intent to unnecessarily limit the scope or the utility of the improved features by virtue of this restricted embodiment.

Referring to the drawing, the typical toy catapult pistol shown therein by way of illustration, comprises in general an elongated main guide casing I0 having longitudinal parallel guide recesses or grooves I I in the opposite side walls thereof and being provided with an integral hollow grip or handle I2; a trumpet shaped elongated barrel I4 secured to the top of the casing I0 and having a rear hollow cylindrical portion I5 in open communication with the casing interior through a longitudinal opening I6, while its forward portion I1 is flared or bell shaped; an impact lever or hammer I8 having its lower extremity provided with pivots I9 journalled in the lower side walls of the handle I2 while its upper impact portion 2E) is swingable within the rear barrel portion I5 through the elongated opening I6, and its medial portion is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 2I terminating in a lower enlargedhole 22; la combined trigger and hammer retracting and release element 23 having an integral depending trigger 24, an integral upper hammer retracting tooth 25, and also being provided with front and rear oppositely extending guide projections 26, 2'I respectively, which are engageable with the elongated casing recesses or grooves II; and springs 29, 30 coacting respectively with the hammer I8 and with the rear side projections 21 of the trigger element 23.

The main casing IU and handle I2 may be formed in separable sections and of any durable material such as sheet metal or plasticy and the barrel I4 Vmay also be constructed of attractive and strong materiale such' as sheet metal or plas tic, and may be firmly secured" to the casing in any suitable manner. While the barrel I4 shown in the drawing, has a trumpet shape, this formation is desirable only for certain uses, and the barrel may also be provided with a uniform cylindrical bore throughout its entire length; `Eacho the parallel elongated recesses II which kare formed in the casing i8 beneaththebarrel-.opening I6, is provided with an enlarged pocket SI intermediate its ends, and each of these pockets 3| has an inclined rear wall 32 and an upright firontiwall 331' `as: clearlyyshown inFlgs. and `2'. The main casing I is also providedovith alcwer slotg343- tllnzoughL which the trigger: Z4 extends. and alongfwhichthisstriggerfis movable', and. thefupper interionportioit of. the.x gripi Ahandle.`v t2 :is moreover providediswith axbuienstri'p 3.5 which is .cooperablel with the: hammers Ht. sofas-.to .cushion and arrest its forward' motion..

'lheyirnpaci'b lever: or "hammer` Ifile is. preferably formed of a single blank. zot; sturdyzsheetemetal Withi the. aid.y of punches: dies; isiprovided with reenforcing opposite; sidefanges '37: as illus.- trated Figs; 'Fand'.Si. 'Eheserflanges 31: and the; pivot'r I.9.. are; icrmedlintegral :with .the same blank; :troniv which the; hammerv body# is; formed and the medial portion of the hammer- I'Ifwithv which.,` theflrelical compressioitwspring', 27S coacts is providedwitlm springfretaining and centering; lugs 38- whichrare also formed` integrali with the common :bl-ank. As. previously indicated, the lbwenchammer .pivots-are,- .mountedg in the lower portion of, the handle; I-Zf'whiletherupperimpact portion 20 is swingable within the rea-n barrel Portion I'5: through the elongatedropening I5, froml- .an .inclined positionin contact with.. the buffer stripg 35 asshown Eig. .2, toa vertical posi-thmas illustrated -i-n; Fig.` 1andfvice versa. The rear end of the:y compression springz reacts against. a retaining ande 'centering abutment 39s formed integral w-itlfithehandle I2f,; and the'upper hammernimpactportioni 2.!)- is adaptedto directly engage .and to :eject va 'baltflllor .other suitable projectile coniined within the lfiarrel` Iii,7 in; a.=manner'tobe subsequently explained.

L'Ihe trigger and; hammer retracting and re lease element 23 isfalsopreferablyiformed of onel orr more pieces` .of strongA sheet; metal' with the aid ofpunches. and dies, andthe trigger 2li is theY only movable portion of the mechanism which is'not. housed: within: the casing; II1-, grip handle I '2, or :barrel-1t4. The hammer retracting tooth'4 25 ofthe-element. 23l iszmovable :within: the barrel portion. t and' along the'ropening t6 when the elementis.travellingV parallel to the recesses II: in ,the rrnarin1 casing lill` :and when A* thus.; moved rearwardly;`- the4 tooth .25'. isfad'apted; to; directly engage-the l-ian-rmer` portionand to thereby retract.V thehammer t8. The `front projections. 2B of theielementl 231kare slidable .and swingable imthefrront portions'onlyof the casing: recesses' v23 .upwar,dly within the slot 2I.

, the `upperhammer portion 20.

or grooves II, while the rear projections 2l are adapted to drop into the casing pockets 3I and are also slidable along the rear portions of the adjacent grooves II whenever the gun is being red. The cantilever tension spring 30 engages the rear projections 21 on one side of the element 23, and winds around and is supported from a pivot screw 4I which may also be utilized to connect the casing and handle sections, and two springs 3U disposed on opposite sides of the element 23 may be utilized if desired. The trigger element 23 extends through the hammer slot 2i, and the enlarged hole 22 at the lower end of this slotservesa to permit convenient assembly of the hammer I8 and element 2-3.

When the Various parts of the improved gun assemblage have been properly constructed as hereinabove described, the trigger element '23 may first be inserted within the hammer 20 by passing the krear projections 2l through the hammer hole. 22 and by subsequently sliding the element The springs 29, 30 may then be caused to properly coact withrthehammer I8 and projection 23 respectively, and all of these elements may thereafter be.V connedz within the; casing I0- andhandlc. I2 byu-uiting. the sections of the casing with the aid otthe, screw di or otherwise. The barrel Immay thenbe attached tol the casing In in any convenient manner so asI to complete the assemblage, and various types of projectiles such as ballsA 40objects with parachutes attached, feathered shuttlecocks, or the; like should be provided.

Aterthe. gunhas been.. properly assembled the trigger Zliwill' be. the only exposed movable part of the mechanism, and this trigger 24 is adapted to either. swing aboutthe front projections 26 of the element 23, or it may be retracted along astraig-htrpath towardthe handle I2 so as to .i cause4- the.- tooth .25 to. move rearwardly within the rear,.barre1 portion I5. If the trigger 24 is permittedl to swing about the projections 2 6, the rear. projections. 2'I will drop into. the pockets` 3| andthe tooth 25 of the element. 23wili not engage However, if upward.. pressureis exerted against the trigger ifi whenit isbeing retracted. the tooth 25 will engage the upper impact portion 20 of the hammer t8 and will retractl the hammerl from inclined positionas. shown in Fig...2. to; vertical position as shown in. Fig. 1. During such Aretraction of the hammer I8 both of the springs 29, 3Q will be tensioned,y and-as the hammer 1.8 reaches upright position as shown in Fig. 1, the tooth 25 of the f1 element 23 willxbe withdrawn into the slot 2l and out of retractingengagernent. with the hammer portion 2i! thereby permitting the stii compression-spring 29.- toquickly impell the hammer forwardly and against. the buffer strip as shown in Fig.. ,2. VIf. aball 4U, or other projectile has been previously positioned with-inV thev barrel portion I5 andagainst the upper hammer portion. 20the: projectile will be ejected from the outlet .end of the barrel I4. with considerable force, thus` causing .a shot. or ring operation to be completed.

,After the. projectile or ball has been thus forcibly ejected, the rearward pressure on the trigger 2 4 may be released, whereupon the tensioni-spring. or springs 3!! will force the element 23 forwardly. ADuring such forward motion of the; trigger-element 2.3,` the upper inclined edge of: the tooth 2.5 will engage the upper end of the slot 2t in the: hammer I8, and the rear projections. 2I` will ride: down .theinclinedz walls` 3121into,

the pockets 3l, thereby permitting the tooth 25 to pass forwardly beyond the inclined hammer I8. When the tooth 25 has thus passed the hammer while the element 23 is moving forwardly, the gun is re-cocked and ready for subsequent action, and all of these movements take place very quickly so that rapid successive firing is made possible. It is to be noted that when the trigger element 23 has been restored to a position wherew in the tooth 25 thereof is in iront of the hammer portion 2U, the trigger 26 may be swung about the front projections 26 and during such swinging movement the rear projections il will oscillate within the adjacent pockets 3|.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved automatically functioning mechanical gun or pistol, which is adapted to be fired in rapid succession and which may be utilized to deliver various types of projectiles in any da sired direction. The improved. gun may be ernployed for diverse purposes, and when the projectiles are shot upwardly, the descending projectiles may be caught in the open end of the barrel ILl. When thus utilized, it is preferable to provide the barrel with a bell-shaped projectile livery and 'receiving end Il, thereby producing a game of skill which is exceedingly amusing as well. The gun assemblage may be made of any desired dimensions and the barrel ifi may be of any desired length, and the projectiles may be either hard or 'softY balls 4Q, miniature soldiers provided with. parachutes for retarding rapid descent thereof, or shuttlecocks provided with feathers or other impact retarding structures.

It will also be apparent that th'e improved assemblage is of extremely simple. compact durable construction and comprises relatively few simple parts which may be readily1 manufactured and conveniently assembled and dismantled. The casing it', handle I2, and barrel Hi may be constructed of attractive sheet metal or plastic to produce a highly attractive assemblage and the element 23 and hammer I3 are preferably constructed of durable sheet metal in order to end hance the life of the unit. Since all of the rapidly moving elements of the assemblage are constantly concealed, danger of injury to the operators is minimized, and the trigger 2d may be manipulated in various ways to either retract the hammer I3 or to avoid doing so. The improved construction of the trigger element 723 permits this element to be automatically restored to proper position after each impact blow has been delivered b-y the hammer I8, by virtue of the specific construction of the recesses Il and of the pockets 3l associated therewith. The trigger element 23 and the hammer i8 may be readily constructed of sheet metal with. the aid of punches and dies at relatively low cost and in a manner whereby these elements will be interchangeable with other similar elements, and the improved gun has proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual use. The gun assemblage may be readily assembled and dismantled and may obviously he utilized for diverse purposes and need not necessarily be embodied in a toy such as shown, since the hammer actuating and release mechanism is Well adapted for more general. application.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a mechanical catapult, a projectile conducting barrel having a manipulating handle and being provided with a recess extending along and located adjacent to the barrel, said recess having a continuous rectilinear guiding edge near the barrel and also having a locally-pocketed opposite edge, a rigid hammer having one end pivotally mounted within said handle and its opposite end swingable within said barrel while its medial portion is provided with a slot, a trigger element extending through said slot and having a projection slidable along said recess and also having a rigid tooth engageable with said hammer adjacent to an end of said slot, said projection being engageable with said continuous recess edge to cause said tooth to travel along a rectilinear path throughout the entire retracting movement of the trigger and being swingable into the pocket of said opposite recess edge to cause said tooth to clear the hammer during return motion of the trigger, means for swinging said hammer forwardly whenever said tooth has completely entered said slot during retraction of the hammer, and means for swinging a portion of said trigger element away from said barrel during return movement of the trigger.

2. In a mechanical catapult, a projectile conducting barrel having a manipulating handle and being provided with a pair of spaced parallel recesses extending along and located adjacent to the barrel, said recesses having continuous rectilinear guiding edges near said barrel and also having locally pocketed opposite edges remote from the barrel, a rigid hammer having one end pivotally mounted within said handle and its opposite end swingable within said barrel while its medial portion is provided with a slot, said hammer being swingable between said recesses, a trigger element extending through said slot and having opposite side projections slidable along said recesses and also having a rigid tooth engageable with said hammer adjacent to an end of said slot, said projections being engageable with said continuous recess edges to cause said tooth to travel along a rectilinear path throughout the entire retracting movement of the trigger and some of said projections being swingable into the pockets of said opposite recess edges to cause said tooth to clear the hammer during return motion of the trigger, means for swinging said hammer forwardly whenever said tooth has completely entered said slot during retraction of the hammer, and means for swinging a portion of said trigger element away from said barrel during return movement of the trigger.

3. In a mechanical catapult, a projectile conducting barrel having a manipulating handle and being provided with a continuous rectilinear guiding edge extending along and located near the barrel, a rigid hammer having one end pivotally mounted within said handle and its opposite end swingable within said barrel while its medial portion is provided with a slot, a trigger element extending through said slot and having a projection slidable along said guiding edge and also having a rigid tooth engageable with said hammer adjacent to an end of said slot, said projection being constantly engageable with said continuous guiding edge to cause said tooth to travel along a rectilinear path throughout the entire retracting movement of the trigger and a portion of said element being swingable about said edge to cause said tooth to Swing away from said barrel and clear the hammer during return motion of the trigger, means for swinging said hammer forwardly whenever said tooth has completely entered said 'slot during'ietraction of the hammer, and means for swinging 'said trigger element away fromsaidfbarrel dhr-ing return movement of the trigger.

4. Ina mechanical catapult, a projectile conducting barrel having aimanlpulating handle and being provided with i3;` pair of spaced parallel reotilinear guiding edge extending along and located-nearfthe barrel, ari'g-id elongated hammer having one endpivotaliy mounted within said handle and its opposite end swing'able within said barrel While itsv medial portion is provided with a slot, a trigger element extending through said along said-guiding edgesrv and also having a rigid tooth engageable with said hammer adjacent to ducting barrel having a manipulating handle and being provided 'with spaced parallel Vguiding recesses extending along vand 'located `near the barrel, a rigid elongated hammer having Aone end pivotally attached to said handle and its opposite end swingable within said barrel While its medial portion is provided with a slot terminating in an enlarged opening near the hammer pivot, and a hat rigid trigger velement extending CHARLES G. NITZ. CARL F. HOFMEIER. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in 'the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 82,536 Locke Sept. 29, 1868 438,237 Holmes v. Oct. 14, 1890 473,808 Arno 11 Apr. 26, 1892 1,183,133 Sperry 1 7 1 May 16, 1916 1,430,812 Jonassen Oct. 3, 1922 1,483,128 Starbuck 1 Feb. 12, 1924 1,486,146 Jonassen Mar. 11, 1924 2,053,152 Kiesel feaa Sept. l1, 1936 

